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- Patented..Deo./.23, 18,84.v v b? ri iil!! I T. URQUHART. APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID HYDROUARBON FUELS'.

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WITNESSES:

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'I'. URQUHART. APPARATUS POR BURNING LIQUID HYDROGARBON FUELS.

No. 309,749. Patented Deo. 23, 1884.

INVENTOR No Model.) T. URQUHART. 4seets-sneet 3.

APPARATUS PUR BURNING LIQUID HYDROGARBUN FUELS. No. 309.749. Patented Deo. Z3, 1884.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR v @ZW/1w Vlie@ d I Q9 f M? @M (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet; 4, T.v URQUHART. APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID HYDROGARBON FUELS. No. 309,749. Patented Deo. 23, 1884.

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Afinar THOMAS URQUHART, OF BORISSOGLEBSK, TAMBOV, RUSSIA.

APPARATUS FOR BURNING LlQUlD-HYDROCARBON FUELS.

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,749, dated December 23, 1884.

Application lcd September 10, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England May 17, 1883, No. $2,483.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS URQUHART, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Borissoglebslr,Ta1nbov Government, in the Empire of Russia, havei'nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Burning Liquid Hydrocarbons, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to effect the utilization of liquid hydrocarbons as fuel in steam-boiler and other furnaces in as simple and direct a manner as may be, so as to afford substantially perfect, complete, and smokeless combustion, by the use of means which shall be free from complication, of comparatively slight cost of construction and maintenance, and of ready and convenient application to furnaces of the sundry constructions ordinarily employed.

The improvements claimed are hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a vertical longitudinal central section through the furnace of a locomotive-engine, illustrating the application of my improvements thereto 5 Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section through the same at the line x of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a horizontal section at the line y g/ of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a plan or top view of the injector; Fig. 5, a vertical central section through the same; Fig. 6, an end View of the same, and Figs. -7 and 8 details of the outer end of the same. Fig. 9 is a view of the cab end of a locomotive-engine, showing the arrangement of parts of my invention. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, also showing the arrangement of the,

same parts.

My invention is herein shown, and will be described, in the form in which it has been applied to and is now in practical operation, under my direction,'upon a'number of locomotive-engines on the Grazi-'Isaritsin railway, South Russia; but it will be obvious that sundrymodifications, both in its general arrangement and details, as required in its application to furnaces of other constructions, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and governing principles of my invention. In the instance illustrated the furnace or inside re-box, 1, is of the ordinary rcctan gul ar form, surrounded by walayer of rire-brick, 5, upon which is built what I term an faccumulative and regenerative77 combustion-chamber, 6, said chamber, which occupies the maj or portion of the volume of the furnace, and corresponds, substantially, therewithin form, being formed of rebrick and fire-clay or other proper refractory material, and being included within a vertical front wall, 7, adjacent to the tube-sheet 3, two vertical side walls, 8, adjacent, respectively, to the side sheets of the re-box, and a top wall, 9, located below the crown-sheet. The top wall is, in furnaces of the class illustrated, preferably formed as an arch, which is sprung across the tops of and acts to support the side walls. The side of the combustionchamber nearest the door of the furnace may either be left entirely open or be partially closed by one or more transverse arches of lirebrick, lO. A series of channels, 1l, extends along each side ofthe combustion-chamber, between the same and the inner surface of the furnace, said channels being separated one from the other by horizontal divisions or partitions, of fire-brick or other refractory material, extending from the side walls of the chamber to or near the side sheets of the furnace, and communicating at intervals with the interior of the combustion-chamber by openings 12. Openings 13 are also formed in the front wall, 7, and said wall is rounded off or cut away at its outer corners, as seen in Fig. 3, to more equally distribute the escaping gases throughout the series of tubes. Air for the support of combustion is admitted to the furnace through openings 14. in the sides or ends, or both, ofthe fire-brick lining of the ash-pan, and the latter should be furnished with proper dampers to regulate the quantity admitted. The furnace-door l5 is fitted with a lining of refractory material, 16, having an opening, 17, closed by a suitable door or bon- IOO net, to admit of observation of or access to the l interior of the combustionchambcr, as may from time to time be desired or required.

The petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon which is to be burned is supplied in a finelydivided condition to the combustion-chamber by one or more spray-injectors connected to the outside of the furnace and operated by the pressure of steam or compressed air, or a mixture of the two.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 to S, inclusive, in which the construction is shown on an enlarged scale, the apparatus consist-s of a metallic cylinder, 18, having a flange, 19, on one of its ends, by which it is attached, through the intermediation of socket-bolts 20, or ot-herwise, to the rear of the furnace, or in such other location thereon as may be found most convenient. A conical discharge-nozzle, 21, is secured to the flange 19, in line axially with the cylinder 18, its outer end projecting into a hollow stay-bolt, 22, of larger diameter, secured in the sheets of the adjacent waterspace of the furnace by being screwed in and riveted over in the ordinary manner. The discharge-nozzle 21 is located concentrically Awith the hollow stay-bolt22, andthe orilice of the latter is made conical or flared outwardly at its outer end, correspondingly with the form of the conical discharge-nozzle 21. A tubular plug, 23, having its outer end closed, and its inner end, which projects into the discharge-nozzle 21, made of conical form, with an opening of reduced diameter, is fitted within the cylinder 1S, and is providedwith an external thread for a portion of its length, said thread engaging a corresponding female thread in the cylinder, so as to enable the end opening of the plug to be moved longitudinally relatively to that of the discharge-nozzle. Then the plug is rotated, such rotation being imparted, as required, by means of a worm, 24, secured upon a shaft or spindle, 25, fitted to rotate in bearings upon the cylinder 18, and having a hand-wheel upon its upper end, which is located at any convenient point above the foot-plate of the engine, the worm 24 engages a worm-wheel, 26, which is fitted upon the plug 23 by means of a key and spline or keyway, so as to impart rotation to the plug without partaking in the induced longitudinal movement of the latter.

rllhe construction above described is designed particularly for locomotive-engines, and for steam-launches, in order to enable the regulation of the discharge-opening to be conveniently controlled from the foot-plate of the former or-the deck of the latter.

In the case of furnaces of stationary boilers, or others which are accessible from a floor or platform at or below the level of the injector the worm and worm-wheel may be dispensed with, and an ordinary hand-wheel substituted for the latter. A suitable gland, 27,

is provided to insure a tight joint at the exit of the plug 23 from'the cylinder, and there is formed in said plug, at a pointbetween its screw-thread and its discharge end, a series of circumferential openings, 28, communicating with an annular recess or bore of increased diameter, 29, formed in the cylinder 1S. A nozzle, 30, for the attachment of a steam or compressed-airsupply pipe opens into the recess 29, andwhere, as in the present instance, steam is used. as the operating agent, it is by preference superheated. To this end the steam-supply pipe 31 is led from the steam# dome to a point suitable for the convenient location of a stop or regulating valve, 32, after which it is led into the furnace and formed into or connected to a series of superheatercoils,33,therein, from which it ext-.ends to and is connected with the supply-nozzle 3() of the recess 29. The liquid hydrocarbon employed is contained in a suitable storage-tank, which should be located a short distance, say from two to ten feet, above the level of the sprayinjector, and is supplied to the latter through a fuel-feed pipe, 34, connected to a nozzle, 35, communicating with thecylinder 18 and with the discharge-nozzle 21, its communication with the latter being regulated to a greater or less degree, or entirely shut off, as desired, by the movement of the plug 23. In order to distribute as far as may be the currents of hydrocarbon liquid which pass out of the` dischargenozzle 21 throughout the area of the combustion-chamber, a divider, 36, is secured to the inside sheet of the fire-box, over the opening of the hollow stay 22, said divider consisting of a series of blades or plates connected to a ring, by which they are fastened to the furnace-sheet, and extending transversely to the inner opening of the hollow stay 22, so as to cause a divergence of the currents of sprayed liquid which issue therefrom, and also toadmit of a l'ree induction of air through and between the flames, and thus to effect thorough mixture of the ignited gases. A fire-brick, faced pan, shelf, or plate, 37, located within the furnace below the divider, serves to deflect and intercept any ofthe entering hydrocarbon liquid that may tend to fall below a proper level.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: In starting the fire steam must be supplied for a short time (in practice about twenty minutes) from an adjacent boiler, for which purpose a supplemental nozzle, 38is connected to the steam-supply pipe 31. After this period the steam raised in the boiler which is being fired will be sufficient' for the continuance ot' combustion. Steam being admitted to the nozzle of the cylinder, and the plug 23 being moved outwardly to open communication between the nozzle and the dischargenozzle 21, the combustible liquid is injected in a spray of fine globules through the hollow stay into the combustion-chamber, drawing with it a current of air, which enters the hollow stay around the discharge-nozzle. The injected hydrocarbon being ignited within the combustion-chamber, and ,thoroughly mixed with the induced currents of air therein, heats said IOO IIO

combustion-chamber to a high degree, and the hot gases, traversing the inner and outer surfaces of the combustion-chamber, and passing along the channels 1l, exert their caloric effect upon the entire heating-surface of the fire-box. Inasmuch as they wholly envelop the walls of the combustion-chamber, and are retained in contact therewith for as long a time as practicable by the obstruction which it affords by preventing their direct passage to the tubes, the combustible matteris fully consumed without the formation of smoke, and the gases finally enter the tubes at a high temperature, which is utilized in the evaporation of the water surrounding the tubes.

The heat absorbed by the mass of fire-brick which forms the combustion-chamber is accumulated or stored up and retained therein while the furnace is in action, and when the supply of liquid fuel is discontinued and the vash-pan dampers closed the walls of the chamber gradually give up their accumulated heat, the chamber thus acting, in the manner of an accumulator and regenerator, to maintain the pressure of steam nearly at a uniform point by the evolution of previously-absorbed heat, and t-he complete prevention of the access of cold air to the tubes.

I am aware of patents for hydrocarbon-furnaces in which an internal combustion-chainber of refractory material is used, and having lateral chambers communicating therewith, the whole being inclosed within the general structure, and in which hydrocarbon liquid is fed to the combustion-chamber through pipes and regulated by cocks; but I am not aware of any invention prior to mine in which is used my special construction of furnace, internal combustion-chamber, and series of gas-channels separated by horizontal divisions and communicating with the combustion-chamber. Neither am I aware of any invention prior to mine showing a mechanism for injecting liquid hydrocarbon, such as is here claimed, although I am aware of other devices aiming to effect similar results.

The new or improved principle of operation found in my invention depends chiefly upon the better utilization of the hydrocarbon liquid, the more perfect admission thereto and mixture therewith of air to support combustion, and the greater accumulation of heat evolved by reason of the construction of the gas-passages andthe increased area of the surfaces exposed to flame.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a furnace, an internal combustionchamber of refractory material, and a series of gas-channels interposed between said chamber and the walls of the furnace, the said scries of channels being separa-ted by horizontal divisions or partitions, and communicating at intervals with the interior of the combustion-chamber.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a furnace, mechanism for injecting liquid hydrocarbon thereto, an internal combustion-chamber of refractory material interposed between the point of supply of said liquid and the exit passage o'r passages of the products of combustion, anda series of gaschannels interposed between said chamber and the walls of the furnace, the said series of channels being separated by horizontal divisions or partit-ions, and communicating at intervals with the interior ofthe combustion-chamber.

3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a furnace, a flooring of refractory material laid upon a lower plate or ash-pau connected thereto, and a combustion-chamber of refractory material, built upon said flooring, and having perforated walls and perforated roof or arch at the top. y

et. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a furnace, an internal combustionchamber of refractory material, corresponding substantially in form therewith, and having a series of perforations in its walls, and a series of divisions or partitions of refractory material extending from the walls of the combustion-chamber to or near the adjacent walls of the furnace, and serving to form channels for the passage of gases from the combustionchamber to the stack or exit-flue.

5. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a furnace, an internal combustionchamber of refractory material, mechanism for injecting liquid hydrocarbon thereto, and a plate or shelf of refractory material located below the point of entrance of said liquid, to prevent the projection of the same to an unduly low level.

6. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a steam boiler and furnace, a sprayinjector for supplying liquid hydrocarbon to said furnace, a steam-supply pipe leading from the steam-space of the boiler to said injector, and a7 supplemental nozzle connected to said supply-pipe to admit of the use of steam from another source of supply when starting the fire.

THOMAS URQUI-IAR'I.

XVitnesses:

WALTER Ross, A. GARRICK.

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